We asked the First Deputy Minister of Defence Artak Zakaryan to comment on the photographs of the Minister of Defence in groomsman dress caused a heated debate on social networks recently, and people even demanded the resignation of the minister. Artak Zakaryan said: “Does it make sense to comment on unusual notes? I think that religious service is also an integral part of the armed forces, and armed forces as one of the structures guided by this service, and Defence Minister’s involvement in the introduction of the cross is one of the steps of the armed forces for the development and strengthening of the moral-psychological environment, which is very important. So, let anyone write whatever they want, but I think that the traditions that have been established between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armed Forces, only give positive impetus to our armed forces”.
In response to the remark that Seyran Ohanyan also participated in that ceremony last year but no such rumours were spread about his photos, Artak Zakaryan said: “If a few posts were placed on social networks, I would attribute this to the authors’ mental abilities and ideas rather than to something rational worth considering about”. The deputy minister believes that this is a good tradition that needs to be developed.
Artak Zakaryan assured that the roads of the army and church have not been unified, these institutions are clearly separated: “We are giving new impetus to the existing millennial traditions and it only positively affects the moral and psychological atmosphere of our army”.
In response to our question whether why a part of society did not tolerate seeing the photos where the Minister was holding the cross, Artak Zakaryan said: “You should not say a part of society, because perhaps those are a few individuals”.
When the reporters said that many caricatures appeared after those photos, the Deputy Minister replied: “I consider such posts and ideas to be just silly, if those are true ideas of someone”.
Zakaryan told that we should not pay attention to posts: “We are confident in our actions”.
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
